Imaging EGFR phosphorylation in intact human pancreatic carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND/AIM

Carcinoma of the pancreatic duct is a highly malignant tumor characterized by aggressive and early metastastatic growth. A high rate of tumor recurrence after surgical resection and the lack of effective chemotherapeutic approaches result in low 5-year survival rates. Overexpression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor have been correlated to a higher tumor biological aggressiveness.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We investigated EGFR RNA and protein expressions in different pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. EGFR phosphorylation was determined using acceptor photobleaching fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET).

RESULTS

The imaging method allowed determination of receptor phorphorylation in intact cells without external calibration. Significant differences between the cell lines were found in EGFR expression but not in phosphorylation of EGFR without EGF stimulation. After stimulation with EGF, significant differences were found in receptor phorphorylation. EGFR expression did not correlate with EGFR phorphorylation.

CONCLUSION

Since EGFR phosphorylation conveys signal transduction within cells, this molecular imaging method could be useful for the identification of patients with a high level of EGFR phosphorylation within tumor cells and, thus, to select patients for an EGFR-targeted therapy.

[Computed tomographic characteristics of canine acanthomatous ameloblastoma - a retrospective study in 52 dogs]

OBJECTIVE

Investigation of the computed tomographic appearance of canine acanthomatous ameloblastoma to describe characteristic imaging features of this neoplasia within the jaw bone.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective evaluation of epidemiological data and imaging results in 70 dogs with histologically confirmed acanthomatous ameloblastoma. In 52 dogs a computed tomography study was available, while radiographs of the rostral maxilla or mandible were available in 18 dogs.

RESULTS

The neoplasia was most commonly located in the rostral parts of the mandible. Dogs of medium and large breeds were most commonly affected with no apparent breed predisposition. A bimodal age distribution could be demonstrated. 19% of the dogs were under 5 years of age. In 45 (86%) of 52 dogs examined by computed tomography osteolysis was present, which in some cases was extensive. An expansile bone destruction of the dental alveolar cavity with osteolysis of the apical border was recognized as the characteristic computed tomographic feature.

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Canine acanthomatous ameloblastoma commonly displays a characteristic computed tomographic appearance, which in combination with histopathological confirmation helps in the diagnosis of this tumour.

B-mode ultrasound and grey-scale analysis of the epididymis in boars, and the relationship to semen parameters

This study investigated the epididymis of mature boars (n=10) by means of B-mode ultrasound and grey-scale analysis (GSA) for echogenicity (EG) determination using an ultrasound unit HS 1500V, a linear transducer (frequencies 7.5-9.0 MHz), and standardized unit settings. All boars had their epididymal caput, corpus and cauda scanned six times before and after semen collection, respectively, at weekly intervals. Semen was subjected to spermatological examination including volume, total and forward motility, sperm abnormalities, as well as total sperm count and concentration. The caput and corpus both had a homogeneous fine echotexture. The cauda was homogeneous too but had a marbled echotexture. Echogenicity before and after semen collection was caput > corpus > cauda, respectively (p<0.001). Echogenicity was higher before than after semen collection for all parts of the epididymis, respectively (p<0.001). Echogenicity of the caput correlated slightly positively with the total sperm count pre-collection (r=0.301; p=0.020) and with ejaculate volume pre- and post-collection (r=0.302 vs 0.306; p=0.017 vs 0.019), and slightly negatively with sperm concentration post-collection (r= -0.275; p=0.034). No relationship was found for EG of the corpus and cauda for any of the ejaculate parameters. In conclusion, B-mode ultrasound and GSA proved feasible for imaging the epididymis in boars. Single relationships between EG and ejaculate parameters were found and deserve further investigation.

[Primary hyperparathyroidism in the dog. Diagnosis, therapy and postoperative management in 19 dogs]

OBJECTIVE

Retrospective evaluation of diagnosis and outcome in 20 dogs with primary hyperparathyroidism.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In 20 dogs primary hyperparathyroidism was diagnosed and 19 patients were treated via parathyroidectomy, 10 additionally with partial thyroidectomy. Medical records of the dogs were reviewed for signalment, clinical features, laboratory findings and results of histopathologic examination. In some cases postsurgical rehabilitation of calcium metabolism required substitution with calcium and vitamin D preparations.

RESULTS

Mean age of the dogs was 11.5 years. The most common clinical signs comprised polydipsia, polyuria, reduced activity, and stiff gait. Laboratory findings were moderate to extensive hypercalcaemia, low or low-normal serum phosphorus concentrations and normal or increased serum parathyroid hormone concentrations. None of the dogs had an elevated parathyroid hormone-related polypeptide level. Histological examination revealed 11 adenomas, six carcinomas and two glandular hyperplasias. Postsurgical management of calcium homeostasis was challenging in some cases.

CONCLUSION

Tumours of the parathyroid gland can be easily treated by parathyroidectomy and usually have a good prognosis.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

With careful interpretation of laboratory findings of a patient presenting with hypercalcaemia and ruling out other causes of hypercalcaemia diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism can be easily achieved and successfully treated byparathyroidectomy.

An Andean radiation: polyploidy in the tree genus Polylepis (Rosaceae, Sanguisorbeae)

The Andean tree genus Polylepis (Rosaceae) is notorious for the high morphological plasticity of its species and the difficulty in their circumscription. The evolutionary mechanisms that have driven diversification of the genus are still poorly understood, with factors as diverse as ecological specialisation, reticulate evolution, polyploidisation and apomixis being proposed to contribute. In the present study, chromosome counts, flow cytometry and stomata guard cell size measurements were employed to document for the first time the presence of polyploidy in the genus and to infer ploidy levels for most species. Inferred ploidy levels show a clear progression from diploidy in cloud forest species to polyploidy (tetra- to octoploidy) in the morphologically and ecologically specialised incana group, indicating that polyploidisation may have played a major role in speciation processes and the colonisation of novel habitats during the Andean uplift. At least two species of Polylepis comprise populations with varying degrees of ploidy. More extensive studies are needed to obtain a better understanding of the prevalence and effects of intraspecific polyploidy in the genus.

A review of polycystic ovarian syndrome in adolescents

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex disorder, involving primarily ovarian hyperandrogenism in females and linked with insulin resistance in the majority of cases. Clinical features are widely variable and include a combination of menstrual irregularities, acne, hirsutism, and alopecia. Although it typically presents around puberty, several risk factors during childhood may help raise a high index of suspicion for the development of PCOS in adolescents. The pathophysiology of PCOS still remains unknown and likely includes a combination of genetic factors, insulin resistance, and environmental factors. A thorough diagnostic work up is required in suspected cases and several management modalities have been suggested. Since various long term complications and comorbidities are associated with PCOS, early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention is warranted in these cases.

A survey of the mycorrhization of Southeast Asian ferns and lycophytes

The colonisation of land by plants may not have been possible without mycorrhizae, which supply the majority of land plants with nutrients, water and other benefits. In this sense, the mycorrhization of basal groups of land plants such as ferns and lycophytes is of particular interest, yet only about 9% of fern and lycophyte species have been sampled for their mycorrhization status, and no community-level analyses exist for tropical fern communities. In the present study, we screened 170 specimens of ferns and lycophytes from Malaysia and Sulawesi (Indonesia), representing 126 species, and report the mycorrhization status for 109 species and 19 genera for the first time. Mycorrhizal colonisations were detected in 96 (56.5%) of the specimens, 85 of which corresponded to arbuscular mycorrhizae (AMF), three to dark-septate endophytes (DSE) and four to mixed colonisations (AMF + DSE). DSE colonisations were lower than in comparable samples of ferns from the Andes, suggesting a geographical or taxonomic pattern in this type of colonisation. Epiphytes had significantly lower levels of colonisation (26.1%) than terrestrial plants (70.7%), probably due to the difficulty of establishment of mycorrhizal fungi in the canopy habitat.

Reduction of workplace contamination with platinum-containing cytostatic drugs in a veterinary hospital by introduction of a closed system

The objective of this study was to determine the level of workplace contamination with platinum-containing cytostatic drugs in a veterinary hospital. A closed chemotherapy application system was then added to the safety regimen. Workplace contamination was measured over a nine-month period by taking wipe samples from seven locations. Before the introduction of the closed system, amounts of platinum were detected at four locations. After the introduction of the closed system, there was a temporary increase in contamination at two locations, followed by an overall reduction in contamination by the end of the study period.

Malignant T cells in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma lesions contain decreased levels of the antiapoptotic protein Ku70

BACKGROUND

Malignant T cells in primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) are genetically unstable and exhibit prolonged lifespans potentially explained by dysregulation of apoptosis, yet are responsive to apoptosis-inducing therapies. The heterodimeric protein Ku70/80 is known to play a role in DNA repair (Ku70 and Ku80) and inhibition of apoptosis (Ku70 only).

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the expression of Ku70/80 in CD3+ T cells derived from skin and blood in patients with CTCL and normal samples, as well as benign dermatoses.

METHODS

Normal (n=10), CTCL (n=9) and benign dermatoses (n=13) skin samples were stained for confocal imaging of Ku70/80 and CD3 and analysed using imaging software. Circulating CD4+ T cells in normal and CTCL peripheral blood were analysed by flow cytometry and Western blot for Ku70/80 expression (n=6).

RESULTS

Ku70 and Ku80 were significantly diminished in T cells of CTCL lesions relative to T cells of control skin. Decreased T-cell Ku70 expression was not a feature of the benign dermatoses psoriasis and contact dermatitis, suggesting that loss of Ku70/80 in CTCL is not simply the result of cutaneous inflammation. Reduced Ku70 was also noted in circulating CD4+ T cells in patients with CTCL with peripheral blood involvement.

CONCLUSIONS

Deficient expression or lack of Ku70/80 may result in genomic instability and play a role in tumorigenesis, as well as account for the increased susceptibility of malignant T cells to apoptosis-inducing treatment modalities in the setting of intrinsic resistance to apoptosis.

Aspects of nitrogen dioxide toxicity in environmental urban concentrations in human nasal epithelium

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) as part of urban exhaust pollution are widely discussed as potential hazards to human health. This study focuses on toxic effects of NO(2) in realistic environmental concentrations with respect to the current limit values in a human target tissue of volatile xenobiotics, the epithelium of the upper aerodigestive tract. Nasal epithelial cells of 10 patients were cultured as an air-liquid interface and exposed to 0.01 ppm NO(2), 0.1 ppm NO(2), 1 ppm NO(2), 10 ppm NO(2) and synthetic air for half an hour. After exposure, genotoxicity was evaluated by the alkaline single-cell microgel electrophoresis (Comet) assay and by induction of micronuclei in the micronucleus test. Depression of proliferation and cytotoxic effects were determined using the micronucleus assay and trypan blue exclusion assay, respectively. The experiments revealed genotoxic effects by DNA fragmentation starting at 0.01 ppm NO(2) in the Comet assay, but no micronucleus inductions, no changes in proliferation, no signs of necrosis or apoptosis in the micronucleus assay, nor did the trypan blue exclusion assay show any changes in viability. The present data reveal a possible genotoxicity of NO(2) in urban concentrations in a screening test. However, permanent DNA damage as indicated by the induction of micronuclei was not observed. Further research should elucidate the effects of prolonged exposure.

[Tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma in the dog. A retrospective study of 33 cases]

OBJECTIVE

Retrospective evaluation of clinical findings in 33 dogs with tonsillar squamous cell carcinomas.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

At the owners' request 9 patients were euthanized after diagnosis. 24 treated patients were grouped into six categories depending on the type of therapy: 1. tonsillectomy and NSAID (Piroxicam or Metacam) (n=10); 2. tonsillectomy, NSAID, and palliative radiation (24-30Gy in 3-5 fractions) (n=4); 3. tonsillectomy, NSAID, palliative radiation, and chemotherapy (5´ Carboplatin 280-300mg/m2 BSA) (n=3); 4. NSAID, palliative radiation, and chemotherapy (n=1); 5. NSAID alone (n=5), 6. tonsillectomy alone (n=1).

RESULTS

There were no breed predispositions but medium sized (10-20kg; 43%) and large dogs (>20kg; 20%), and males (n=22; 71%) were overrepresented. The average age was 10.7years (range, 6.5-14.5years). At the first presentation, 22 of the 33 dogs (67%) had lymph node metastasis. None of the dogs had lung metastasis at the time of diagnosis, as determined by three view chest X-rays. The best survival times (ST) were achieved in groups 2 and 3 with three of seven patients living longer than 1year. Patients without lymph node metastasis had a trend for longer survival times, independent of the type of therapy. Treated patients with lymph node metastasis (n=17) had a mean and median ST of 9.5 and 4months, respectively. Only two dogs survived longer than 1year. Dogs without lymph node metastasis had a mean and median ST of 17.7 and 12 months, respectively; the ST for four of the eight dogs exceeded 1year, two survived longer than 2years.

CONCLUSION

It could be confirmed that tonsillar squamous cell carcinomas are aggressive tumours with a high rate of cervical lymph node metastasis. In most cases with metastasis the survival times were relatively short, irrespective of treatment. In early stages of the disease however, good survival times could be achieved using surgical debulking followed by multimodality treatment.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

In squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsils thorough staging is mandatory due to the high metastatic potential of the tumour. Verification of metastasis carries a poor prognosis. Further studies are required to find the best treatment (combination) for these patients.

[Incidence of chronic kidney disease in general population, EPIRAN study]

AIMS

To assess incidence of chronic kidney disease in general population and to describe baseline characteristics of incident patients.

METHODS

Between 1st/01/04 and 30/06/06 all incident cases of chronic kidney disease in the Nancy district were prospectively identified. New cases were identified from all medical laboratories in this area and determined by a persistently increased serum creatinine level (> or = 150micromol/l, or paediatric levels) for 3 months after the 1st/01/04, and by living in Nancy area.

RESULTS

The annual incidence rate of detected chronic kidney disease was 1 per thousand inhabitants (1,3 per thousand for men and 0,7 per thousand for women). Incidents patients were old (mean age: 77 years) and with numerous comorbidities (diabetes: 34 %, cardiac failure: 23 %). More than 30% of incident patients were diagnosed at sever stage of chronic kidney disease (<30ml/min/1,73m(2)).

CONCLUSIONS

The annual incidence of diagnosed chronic kidney disease is common: 10 times more than end-stage renal disease in France. Most of these patients are diagnosed in a severe stage of chronic kidney disease whereas they could be detected earlier and benefit from adequate, appropriate and multidisciplinary take care.